Daily Dicamba Update: Cleaning the Sprayer from Tank to Nozzle

Daily Dicamba Update: Cleaning the Sprayer from Tank to Nozzle

Ensuring a properly stewarded dicamba application in 2018 will be priority number one for applicators working within the new cropping systems.

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According to experts at Purdue Extension, who you’ll be hearing from frequently throughout this campaign, tank and sprayer component contamination will “likely play a role in off-target movement of synthetic auxin herbicides, especially dicamba.”

Making sure spray systems are thoroughly cleaned when transitioning a sprayer before and after using dicamba is going to be crucial in preventing injury to susceptible crops. Likely the most efficient manner in which to accomplish this feat is to focus on the individual components of the spray system itself.

Here’s a couple tips from Purdue on how to accomplish an effective spray system cleanout:

Photo Credit: Purdue Extension; PPP-108

Spray tanks, for instance, have a large surface area that can retain product on the interior surface. Purdue advises applicators consider the shape and design of the spray tank. Is it a flat-bottom tank that can hold product in corners or ledges? Where is the drain port located, and does it allow the tank to drain completely?

Rubber hoses are another are another aspect of the sprayer that should be addressed during cleanout. According to Purdue, some hoses sag between sections of the boom pump, which creates a trap for liquid or suspended products (see image below). In those cases Purdue advises applicators “invert U-shaped hoses with the help of a tarp strap or zip tie so that they become self-draining.”

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